What are Cigarette Cards?

Never heard of cigarette cards before? Neither had I until I started working with them. These cards used to be packaged with cigarettes, and would be collected to form sets on a wide variety of topics. Some of these topics remain popular today, such as cars, stars, planes and trains. But there are some series which are simply intriguing historically or for other reasons. I've scanned a few so that you can get a 'taste' of what cigarette cards include.

back to Cigarette Cards

	Animalloys From Wills Cigarettes, this set of cards allows you to rearrange parts of different animal's bodies to create your own unique creature.
	Third Rhodesian Series 13 Removing an Ant-Hill Heaps made by White Ants, or Termites, are sometimes a nuisance to agriculturists. These insects tunnel long distances to the dead vegetation upon which they normally feed, closing and opening new entrances as circumstances require. In dry weather they occasionally sink wells to obtain moisture. The entrances are guarded by Warrior Ants whose grotesquely large heads protrude round the edge ready to attack any intruders. Black (carnivorous) Ants, drawn up in organized armies, sometimes raid the Termites. (No Peace Conference between White and Black Ants has yet been mooted). Lambert and Butler
	Third Rhodesian Series Baobab Lambert and Butler "I pointed out to the little prince that baobabs were not little bushes, but, on the contrary, trees as big as castles; and that even if he took a whole herd of elephants away with him, the herd would not eat up one single baobab." Le Petit Prince, Chapter 5
	Famous British Authors G.K. Chesterton Wills "Even a bad shot is dignified when he accepts a duel." "We have had no good comic operas of late, because the real world has been more comic than any possible opera." - The Quotable Chesterton
	A Gallery of 1934 Dionne Quintuplets Mitchell The 1934 birth of five identical sisters to an impoverished couple in the small town of Callander, Ontario, was hailed as a medical miracle. At the time, they were the only known quintuplets to survive more than a few days.
	Punch Jokes Mother, to naughty child: Do you know what daddy would say if I told him? Child: Yes Mummie. He'd say 'that's just like your darn family.' Rothmans
	Punch Jokes Child, to pigs: I'm awful sorry to have to eat you every mornin', but this woman makes me. Rothmans
	Winter Scenes The Young Idea Senior Service (Pattreiouex)
	Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse Wills Mickey Mouse was created by Walt Disney in March 1928.

Children of all Nations 49 United States American children are well-educated, and great pains are taken to develop individuality. Because of this fact and their natural vivacity of mind they are, perhaps, apt to strike an English visitor as somewhat boisterous, aggressive and self-assertive. The charming ingenuousness and simplicity which one associates with "old-fashioned" children are not commonly found amoung the precocious boys and girls of the States. The American boy loves mechanical models and toys. Franklyn, Davey & Co
How Films are Made 12 Making Snow When it is required to show snow falling, as in a scene such as that illustrated on card No. 25, men with large sieves are situated in the scaffolding high above the "set," and a very realistic effect is obtained. The special mixture of naphtha and salt falls in natural looking flakes. Soap flakes of the household variety are also extensively used. The illustration shews "snow" being scattered over a miniature background scene. Morris
Wonderful Century 31 Sea Bathing Although the modern generation is very keen on bathing, we are apt to forget that our great-grandparents of a hundred years ago were also very "wrapped up" in the pastime. In those days, the fair ladu bather who boldly stepped from her machine into the raging sea thought nothing of appearing in public on such occasion without gloves! But Miss 1937 has cast off many conventions and even more clothes; her smart swim-suit might shock her great-grandmother, but it pleases everybody else, and is now recognized as the sensible garb for the seashore. Mitchell

Children of all Nations
49
United States
American children are well-educated, and great pains are taken to develop individuality. 
Because of this fact and their natural vivacity of mind they are, perhaps, apt to strike an 
English visitor as somewhat boisterous, aggressive and self-assertive. The charming 
ingenuousness and simplicity which one associates with "old-fashioned" children are not 
commonly found amoung the precocious boys and girls of the States. The American boy loves 
mechanical models and toys.
Franklyn, Davey & Co

How Films are Made
12
Making Snow
When it is required to show snow falling, as in a scene such as that illustrated on card No. 
25, men with large sieves are situated in the scaffolding high above the "set," and a very 
realistic  effect is obtained. The special mixture of naphtha and salt falls in natural 
looking flakes. Soap flakes of the household variety are also extensively used. The 
illustration shews "snow" being scattered over a miniature background scene.
Morris

Wonderful Century
31
Sea Bathing
Although the modern generation is very keen on bathing, we are apt to forget that our 
great-grandparents of a hundred years ago were also very "wrapped up" in the pastime. In those 
days, the fair ladu bather who boldly stepped from her machine into the raging sea thought 
nothing of appearing in public on such occasion without gloves! But Miss 1937 has cast off 
many conventions and even more clothes; her smart swim-suit might shock her great-grandmother, 
but it pleases everybody else, and is now recognized as the sensible garb for the seashore.
Mitchell